“Soul crushing.” That’s how Dr. Jane Buckner, president of Seattle’s Benaroya Research Institute, described the current moment for scientists, who have seen federal research grants cut, scientific work scaled back and federal review of their research delayed.
In the first 100 days of President Donald Trump’s administration, hundreds of active research grants have been canceled or threatened nationwide. Now, the administration might propose deep cuts to the Food and Drug Administration, National Institutes of Health and other federal health agencies.
Buckner was speaking last month at Life Science Innovation Northwest, Seattle’s marquee gathering of the biotech industry. Most years, the two-day conference sees scientists, investors and others involved in the region’s $41 billion biotech industry dish about the latest discoveries and collaborations for treating diseases and improving health, while making deals, scoring jobs or just getting some good advice.